'Big kid' bringing team unity, fair play to Bucks girls soccer program

November 20, 2008|By PETER HOLEHAN Special To The Forum

Coach Roberto Alonso has coached many different sports. Girls golf. Baseball. Girls basketball. And junior varsity boys basketball to name a few.

So when Deerfield Beach High School athletic director Vincent Tozzi asked Alonso to take on the coaching gig for the Bucks varsity girls soccer team before the season began, Alonso was ready.

"That's what I'm here for," said Alonso, just before his team got ready to face traditional powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas at Deerfield Beach's Westside Park on Monday, Nov. 17.

Alonso says that he's been through the worst seasons, the best and has seen many different coaching styles. He dubs himself as "just another big kid" out there on the sidelines, but still seeks out an identity for his players and believes it's very important to associate yourself with your school.

Alonso's main goals in focus have stressed academics, fair play, fun and unity.

On game days, players must wear dresses and slacks. Flip flops, jeans and T-shirts are all out.

"It shows a symbol," Alonso said. "When people see that you're dressed up like that, people will ask you why. It builds an identity and shows your spirit."

If a player misses a practice, they don't get to play in the game. If you're late to practice, you have to run laps. But everybody, from starters to reserve freshmen, gets playing time. And that's why respect has been forged between player and coach on this team.

It's been anything but typical for these Lady Bucks. For seniors like Alex Almanzar and Alexa Riggs, who have been on the team since they were freshmen, they've been through seasons of change.

This is their third coach in four years and each has had their own distinct coaching style. From coaches who have given tough 'hard knocks' love to the laid back coach, they've seen both extremes.

Players like Almanzar can remember back to the very first practice. She was the only freshman at practice and she hardly knew anybody.

"I just remember our coach telling us that walking is for losers," Almanzar said. "And I'll never forget that. From that moment on, I wanted to get better in this sport and keep at it."

For Riggs, her favorite moment came just last season in a game against Miramar.

Trailing by two goals, Riggs was a big part of the rally as she scored the tying and winning goals in a span of under seven minutes to help lift the Bucks to victory.

Although it finished just 6-12-1 last season, Deerfield Beach has had memories like this that should last for a lifetime.

"We're like a family," said junior midfielder Antonella Lopez. "I feel like we're more together this season."

Despite a 10-0 drubbing to St. Thomas Aquinas, there were plenty of positives that coach Alonso and the team feels that it will take from the game.

Freshman Jessica Grant, who had been playing forward and midfielder, subbed in at goalkeeper toward the end of the match and made some solid saves.

On one particular play, the ball was fired at her from about 10 yards away and Grant moved to her left and corralled it for the save. Teammates hooted and hollered while coach Alonso could be heard screaming from the bench, "Atta girl!"

"Her eyes got really big when I asked her to play in goal," Alonso said. "We were missing a bunch of players to injury like Chelsea [Anderson], [Jahlilsa] Harvey and Sara [McCloskey]. They played really hard today. We have work to do. But, like I always tell them, you never know where the next bounce is going to go."